By: Tochi Onyeubi
It was confusion yesterday at Banana Junction, Orlu in Imo state, when a policeman shot a young man to death over face mask.
Eye witness account reveals that, the young man not up to 30years and a native of Okporo Orlu was accosted by policemen stationed at the Banana junction checkpoint.
The young man (name withheld) Trumpeta learnt, was queried for not wearing his face mask and officers demanded money from him. When he was unable to pay, one of the policemen seized his key.
Trumpeta couldn’t specifically ascertain what transpired, but it was gathered that, while the young man insisted to be given his keys back, another policeman pumped bullets into his body at close range, killing him instantly.
Sensing danger and fearing being lynched, the policemen whose names could not be ascertained given the scenario, fled the scene shooting sporadically in the air to scare people away.
The act was said to have enraged Orlu youths in the area, but for the intervention of stakeholders it would have degenerated into a serious conflict.
Efforts made to get to Police Public Relations Officer, SP Orlando Ikeokwu, proved abortive.
